On this week’s SlatePolitical Gabfest, John Dickerson and Emily Bazelon talk with author Jodi Kantor about her controversial new book The Obamas. They also discuss the GOP primary in New Hampshire and a Supreme Court case on religious freedom and ministerial exception.

Advertisement

Here are some of the links and references mentioned during this week's show:

Jodi Kantor’s book, The Obamas.
A CBS News interview with Michelle Obama on her reaction to Kantor’s book.
John’s Slate piece on Romney’s New Hampshire victory.
A CBS Newsarticle about Sheldon Adelson’s $5 million donation to Gingrich’s super PAC.
John’s Slate piece on the Republican attacks on Romney’s record at Bain Capital.
The Gingrich super PAC’s ad attacking Romney as a “corporate raider.”
John’s Slate piece on Gingrich’s “pious baloney” comment.
Bill Kristol’s Weekly Standard piece on Bain Capital.
The Pew Research poll finding that two-thirds of the public believe there are strong conflicts between the poor and the rich.
Hosanna-Tabor Church v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a Supreme Court case deciding whether or not a church can be sued for discrimination by religious teachers.
Employment Division v. Smith, a case about whether Native Americans could be exempt from Oregon’s ban on peyote for religious use.

Emily chatters about a Supreme Court case, Compucredit v. Greenwood, which allows credit-card repair firms to force arbitration because of the fine print of loan agreements. She also chatters about Lena Dunham’s film, Tiny Furniture.

John’s chatter focuses on a quote from Kottke.org about what it’s like to deeply understand math.

The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)

Podcast production by Andrew Bouvé and Dale Willman. Links compiled by Aviva Shen.